Assignment 1: Task 3- Narrative endings

I will be talking about open-end narratives and close-end narrative with examples and their appeal to the audience.

Open-end narrative:

 Open-end narratives are common mostly within TV shows/dramas and some films in order to leave the audience with excitement and an adrenaline rush to want more which leaves high expectations for whats coming next and would probably be a motivation for the makers of the open-ended productions.

Facts

• Tend to have more than one story line (realistic)
• more knowledge about the characters for the audience 
• It could go on forever 

Eastenders and Hollyoaks are the two open-ended TV soap dramas familiar to me therefore, it will be easier for me to go into depth on the thrill the open-end gives me and to explain what exactly is an open-ended narrative.

Cliffhanger from Hollyoaks, Sinead laying on the floor 

This is the end of an episode in Eastenders where Phil was laying on the ground, hurt and covered with blood. The episode has been left as a cliffhanger with the "DUFF DUFF DUFF" which is always used to end an episode. This would leave the audience in suspense and wanting to find out what happened to Phil and who did this to him and how it happened. This causes social interactions and is entertaining because audience become intrigued.


The same practice is used in the production of Hollyoaks to also keep the audience in suspense and wanting to find out more. Hollyoaks also has the score which is designated only to Hollyoaks.

Close-ended Narrative 

YOU GUESSED IT! Close-ended narratives is the opposite of Open-ended narrative. The plot and storyline actually comes to an end. 

Facts

• Close-ended narratives tend to manipulate the audience on which character they should like or dislike 
• Time is compressed (unrealistic), therefore most of the events and the story is mostly special 
• Tend to be 2 hours (films)
• Tend to follow linear structure (beginning, middle and ending)
• Main audience are people who nonintellectual or like things wrapped up quickly

An example of a close ended production is Shrek.

Shrek and Fiona getting married

This movie ended with Fiona and Shrek getting married even though not everybody supported which was shown in the middle of the movie. Finding out that Shrek and Fiona ended up getting married would have been pleasing for some audience because it would be satisfactory for the people who actually wanted them to get married however some audiences might want it to continue. For example, to show what happens after the marriage, a sort of twist which would be more conducive.



Another example is Attack the block. 

It's also close ended. The screen shot shows the end where the boys defeated the aliens and one of them is dragging one of the dead aliens on the floor. This would have also been satisfactory to the audience to know that they actually defeated the aliens despite the boys nature of living in one of the baddest blocks in south London. However, others would have wanted a twist too. For example, if the aliens actually come back.
I feel like this film will not be close-ended for long and maybe the producers are actually planning to publish a part 2 because a continuation with this movie is possible. I would definitely watch another one. 

However, i'd say i prefer open ended films as i like to be intellectually challenged which is basically the main audience for open ended films anyway.